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How to travel to Europe for cheap was the first question I asked the first moment I thought about wanting to travel to Europe for the first time. Ha.
On a side note, yes, I do have to admit that I’m a cheapskate. As much as possible, I do try to extend that cheapskateness to every aspect of my life—including (surprise) travel.
And it did pay off because that is the answer to the next logical question, which is: did I find answers to the question of whether you can travel to Europe for cheap? And if I did, what are they?
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To address that second to the last question (did I confuse you yet? Just follow along and you’ll be fine, heh), yes, absolutely, you can travel to Europe for cheap!
And the answers to the last question are down below.
One last side note, I haven’t yet exhausted all the many different ways you can travel to Europe for cheap (yes, there are many), but these are the best for now. I’ll post more tips on my succeeding post or I might send them out via email to my subscribers (if you haven’t subscribed yet, then now is the best time to do so), so stay tuned.
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Moving on, here are the tried and tested ways that you can travel to Europe for cheap.
How to Travel to Europe for Cheap
Checking-In
One way to travel to Europe for cheap is to do your flight check-in at home.
This is especially true if you’re traveling just within Europe using airlines flying only on the continent. Most of these no-frills airlines flying around Europe charge fees if you do your check-in at their airport counters.
Be sure to check the airline’s policy regarding checking in for flights to avoid these unnecessary and often exorbitant expenses. You wouldn’t want to get caught in a scenario where you’d have to unwittingly pay hundreds of euros just because you’re unaware of their check-in policy.
Mind Your Baggage
If you don’t want to pay for excess baggage fees, then be sure to keep your luggage’s weight within your airline’s regulations.
While on the road, you can always be on top of your luggage weight by bringing along a portable luggage weighing scale. This nifty and cheap device is small enough that it would take up little to no space in your luggage, so it won’t unnecessarily add to your luggage weight. Most importantly, it would save you from racking up those expensive baggage fees, making you travel to Europe for cheap.
Plan Ahead
If you have a schedule to follow for the day, planning your itinerary ahead of time would save you from paying for unnecessary expenses.
For instance, leaving early to go somewhere means you can take the cheaper public transportation than resort to a much more expensive taxicab, which would be the case when you’re already running late because you didn’t plan ahead. Or planning your route would mean not having to go back and forth and paying for double the transportation cost.
Wake up early with the help of an alarm clock or be sure to have maps like Google Maps or MAPS.ME on your electronic devices.
Fixed Price Meals
When it comes to dining out, ordering a fixed-priced meal saves you money than ordering à la carte. The former is usually 30% cheaper. Another great thing about a fixed-priced meal is that it already comes with everything that you’ll require in your usual fare, yet is priced much cheaper. Think budget meal, that’s what it is.
Big Meals
In my experience, more often than not, dishes in European restaurants come in big servings. I usually cannot consume a plate when I try to eat what’s on it all by myself, so I then end up paying for something I didn’t finish eating. Of course, I had the leftovers bagged and taken home, but I could also have ordered something that was just enough for one meal and then paid for a lower price. That’s more budget-saving.
In the alternative, I could have agreed with my companion to order the big meal and share it between the two of us. We then could just split the check later. Still budget-saving.
So in order to avoid paying for a meal you can’t finish off or be able to decide with your friends on how to order, then check with the servers first on the sizes of their servings. Then you can proceed accordingly.
Go Grocery
Packed meals are also available at groceries and supermarkets, which are way cheaper than in restaurants. A sandwich, for instance, would cost you as little as a euro. Drinks there cost super less too.
You’ll not only find sandwiches in groceries but other meals as well like pasta, salad, meats, etc. And they taste great and could already meet your nutrient requirements.
So if you’re dead set about traveling to Europe on the cheap, then go the grocery route for your meals.
Round-Trip It Is
Buying the round-trip fare is usually cheaper than choosing a one-way ticket. Also opting for the multi-city ticket costs less than an open-jaw one. A multi-city ticket is one where you fly in and out of the same city to another destination, while an open-jaw is the opposite.
Related Reading
- Cheap Flights: Tips on How to Get the Best Deals
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Don’t Rush It
In Europe, traveling on local trains during the non-rush hours is much cheaper than when you ride them when people are going to and from work or school. Trains provide discounts during these times when the flow of people is light.
So if time is of no essence, try not to join the rush hour traffic in order to travel cheaply.
Discounts
When looking for hotels in Europe, make inquiries first if they offer discounts.
Most hotels do and if you never ask, then you wouldn’t find out. You might just be surprised at the range of discounts hotels offer and which you may be eligible for. This is especially true during off-peak and shoulder seasons when tourists are few and far between. Some might just offer you free rooms which is not unheard of.
Discount Cards
Corollary to the above, don’t hesitate to always ask for whatever discounts may be available to you. Be it with airlines, hotels, restaurants, or sightseeing spots, always inquire as to what discounts they may offer you. You might be entitled to discounts you aren’t aware of, and it would be a shame if you passed up on the chance to avail of them just because you didn’t ask.
Students, for instance, with student IDs (and in some instances, even those who didn’t bring any) are given discounts in museums and other sightseeing spots. Teens 18 or below get free passes in some instances, too.
Some establishments also offer discounts to senior citizens.
So again, ask, ask, and ask. You might just be happy with what you’ll receive.
Day Cards
For your local transportation needs, secure day or multi-day transportation cards that allow you to use unlimited local transportation at a fixed price. These come cheaper than buying separate tickets for every ride as they (transportation cards) are already heavily discounted. It could be a day card or a multi-day one that’s good for 3 or 5 days. You can get these cards at the tourist information offices or at the train stations of the city you’re in.
Check Schedules
There are plenty of museums around Europe that you can visit for free. London, for example, has a lot of these.
However, in case the museum you’re after comes with a sightseeing cost, then check with that museum first if they offer free entry days. The Louvre in Paris, for instance, offers free entry every first Sunday of the month, so if you schedule your visit on that day, you’d be saving quite a hefty amount of euros.
The Anatomy of the Free Breakfast
Someone once asked me if it’s advisable to avail of free breakfasts offered by hotels, which come with your room but then you pay a higher room rate. My answer would be: it depends.
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You should check how much was added to your room rate and compare that added amount to the prevailing breakfast rates offered in food joints outside. If it’s considerably lower, and the quality of food being offered is good, then go for it.
But if the amount added is quite higher than those charged at restaurants outside, then maybe it’s better to just grab your breakfast somewhere else.
In my experience, though, more often than not, free breakfasts are worth the added hotel expense. That’s because they are priced considerably lower than restaurants outside and come in a buffet spread with a great many selections.
But then again, do your own due diligence and determine for yourself because it a case-by-case basis.
Final Thoughts
So there you go, the easy ways you can travel to Europe for cheap.
Watch out for the second installment of this post, which I may post here on the blog or send to email subscribers.
Also, if you have other ideas on how to travel to Europe for cheap, then don’t hesitate to share them with us in the comment section below.
One last thing, please don’t forget to Pin this post to save for later or to share with others. Happy travels!
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